Schindler House on Ellis Avenue, Inglewood, Calif.

Restoration/Preservation / Merit

Steven Ehrlich, FAIA, saw this project as a rescue mission. He had two objectives: to preserve the legacy of Rudolph Schindler, who designed the house in 1939, and to make it as green as possible. Ehrlich reconstructed built-ins and furniture, replaced the kitchen, bath, and asbestos ductwork, and opened the kitchen to the living room. He also installed LED lighting, waterproofing membranes, and an efficient HVAC system. Wood window frames were restored and fitted with tempered glass.

Make that three objectives: The renovation became a family project, and after completion Ehrlich sold it to his daughter and her husband. “It happened to be a great family investment now that my kids own it,” he says. The judges remarked on the respect shown. “This is an important piece of architecture for a lot of people,” one noted. “They didn’t mess with it, they just brought it back.”